Photos by Pesi Fonua

Ten days of mourning began in Tonga this morning with the arrival from the USA of the caskets of Prince Tu'ipelehake and Princess Kaimana.

It was cool and overcast at the Fua'amotu International Airport, when the Air New Zealand flight 27 touched down at 8.20am. Besides the sounds of the aircraft, the atmosphere was sombre as nearly everyone waiting on the runway, was in black and some with large traditional ta'ovala, waist mats.

For the Tongan Royal Family there will be a period of six-months of mourning. Family members came on the flight, and first to disembark was Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu, the elder sister of the late Prince Tu'iplehake. She was accompanied by her cousin Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, followed by Hon. Naomi Mata'afa of Samoa. They were welcomed by the Prince Regent, Crown Prince Tupouto'a, and Hon. Mailefihi a younger brother of the late Tu'ipelehake, and other nobles. Many overseas Tongans also accompanied the party on the flight.

A contingent of the Tonga Defence Service received the royal caskets, which were then draped with the national flag of Tonga, for the funeral cortege into Nuku'alofa.

Meanwhile, along the roadsides for the entire 12 kilometres from the airport to Nuku'alofa, school students lined the sides of the road, and village people stood silently, paying their respects as the funeral procession passed by.

While this is not officially a state funeral - it certainly has the look and feel of one as thousands of Tongans left their workplaces and schools to pay their respects to the Royal Couple who tragically lost their lives in a US road accident on July 5.

The Royal Caskets were taken to the Fatai Royal Residence on the Nuku'alofa seafront, where the couple lived, and there a vigil has begun and will continue through the night as delegations from different churches arrive to pay their respects.

Members of the Royal Family joined the Prince Regent and HM Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho at the residence for prayers, attended by government ministers, nobles, and members of the Legislative Assembly, where the late Prince was a Noble's Representative.

First to pay their respects were many of the overseas dignitaries arriving in Tonga to attend the funeral, who include Sir Douglas Graham, Commonwealth Special Envoy; HE Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, Vice President of Fiji; HE Bienvenido Tjano Ambassador of the Philippines; HE Masashi Namekawa, Ambassdor of Japan, HE Ratu Finau A. Mara, Fiji High Commissioner to Tonga, and diplomatic representatives of the British, Australian, French and US governments.

The Takipo beings at 5 p.m. when choirs from different churches will sing at Fatai. Joining the vigil and prayer programme throughout the night will be the combined churches of Haveluloto, Lapaha, Fo'ui, the LDS, Tokaikolo 'ia Kalaisi, the Catholic Church, Vaini, Ma'ufanga, Church of Tonga, FWC, Anglican, Assemblies of God, Seventh Day Adventist, Gospel Fellowship, and the combined churches of Pelehake, 'Alaikifonua, Fotua, Latofoa, and Vaihoi,

Tomorrow, July 21, the funeral service will be held at the Free Wesleyan Centenary Church at midday before a funeral procession to Lapaha, leaves the Centenary Church at about 1.45 pm. The cortege will be received at the Catholic Loma Cemetery at Lapaha where a second funeral procession will leave at about 3.30 pm for the burial ground at Langi Na Moala.

Prince 'Aho'eitu Tuku'aho will lead the bearer party followed by the Royal Corps of Musicians and the Tonga Police Band. The Royal Catafalque will be attended by the relatives of the late Prince Tu'ipelehake.